ALOR STAR: Twelve MCA members including seven who are contesting as opposition and independent candidates for the 14th General Election (GE14), were given the boot effective today.
MCA Disciplinary Board chairman Tan Sri Chor Chee Heung said the action was taken based on Article 124 (1) of the MCA Constitution after the members were found to have acted in contravention to the party’s constitution.
Chor said nine of the members were from Johor, two from Perak and one from Kedah.
He said two of them filed their respective nomination as independent candidates in Johor while two others are contesting as DAP candidates at the same state.
Chor added two MCA members in Perak were sacked for standing as Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) candidates, while in Kedah the member had jumped ship to stand as PKR candidate for Kulim state seat.
The other five members he said, were sacked for acting as the proposer, seconder and also witness for the candidates.
“Following the nomination day yesterday, the Presidential Council had written to the disciplinary board, of which 12 names of party members were submitted for violating party discipline.
“The board held an emergency meeting last night and found conclusive evidence that the individuals had acted in contravention of article 122 of the Party Constitution by nominating or offering their names as independent candidates or contesting under the opposition ticket or acted as proposer, seconder or witness to the candidate.
“The board has recommended that the 12 should be expelled from the party with immediate affect and this was agreed by the Presidential Council,” he told a press conference here today.
He said the four of the 12 members are Ting Chong Chai and Lim Yak Hong who are contesting as independent candidates for Puteri Wangsa state seat in Johor, Tee Boon Tsong (DAP candidate for Senai, Johor) and Ng Yak Howe (DAP candidate for Bentayan, Johor).
The other members from Johor who were expelled are Choon Kai Ling who acted as Tee’s proposer, Chew Mui Mui (Ng’s seconder), Ng Lee Chu (Lim’s proposer), Lam Tau Lai (Lim’s witness) and Thin Meau Guey (Ting’s witness).
In Perak, Chin Kwai Leong and Chin Kwai Heng are standing as PSM candidates for Menglembu and Tronoh seats, respectively while in Kedah, Chor said Yeo Keng Chuan had crossed over to PKR to become its candidate.
“The disciplinary board found that the seven members were unhappy that they were not selected as candidate in GE14. They should have submitted an appeal to the party to air their grievance.
“The decision made by party leadership on any party matters including the selection of candidates for GE14, is final and if they are unhappy, they should have raised the matter using the proper channel within the party,” he said.
Chor, however said none of the 12 had submitted any appeal to the party.